Ellen G. White's Warnings and Advice on Self-Abuse

Self-abuse is a soul-and-body-destroying vice that ruins the physical health, debases the mind, and benumbs the moral sensibilities of the youthEGWSCC 1.2+2. This practice is an abomination in the sight of God and serves as one of Satan’s most effective methods to gain control of the mind and destroy the soul for eternity21MR 384.1+2.

Impact on Physical Health

The physical consequences of this habit are severe and far-reaching, often leading to a breakdown of the constitutionEGWSCC 1.2.

• Constitutional Decay: It can cause a variety of ailments including liver and lung affections, neuralgia, rheumatism, spine and kidney diseases, and cancerous humorsEGWSCC 1.2+1.

• Neurological Damage: The practice exhausts the brain-nerve power, leading to dizziness, headaches, and even a danger of paralysis of the brainCCh 109.5+2.

• General Vitality: It saps the body of vital energy, resulting in loss of memory and sight, great weakness in the back and loins, and a constant sense of lassitudeTSB 122.2+2.

• Youthful Development: Many children begin this habit in infancy, causing their animal passions to grow and strengthen while their physical frames become mere wrecks of humanity1MCP 290.1+2.

Mental and Intellectual Effects

Masturbation significantly dims the brilliance of the intellect and prevents proper education2T 392.2+1.

• Intellectual Weakening: The draft upon the brain is so great that children may retain only one-half or one-third of the intellectual power they might have otherwise possessedCG 445.3+1.

• Imagination and Focus: It excites a corrupt imagination, making it nearly impossible to appreciate eternal things or delight in spiritual exercises2MCP 592.1+1.

• Behavioral Changes: Children often become melancholy, irritable, jealous, and lose their self-respect and power of self-restraint1MCP 258.1+2.

Spiritual and Moral Consequences

The habit of self-pollution is a barrier to a religious life and bars the way to heaven21MR 384.1+2.

• Alienation from God: Those who practice this vice often turn with loathing from religious things and have less reverence for sacred themes2T 392.2+1.

• Moral Paralysis: It benumbs the conscience, making it difficult to discern between good and evil or to feel the influence of the Holy Spirit2T 406.1+2.

• Judgment: Every individual must realize that God will bring every work into judgment, and they are encouraged to put away evil from the flesh Ecclesiastes 11:9-10.

Paths to Reform and Prevention

Victory over this habit is possible through determined effort and divine strengthSA 75.2.

• Mental Discipline: One must purify the imagination by restraining the mind from low, sensual things and placing the thoughts on Christ and heavenly subjects 2 Corinthians 10:5SA 75.2+1.

• Useful Labor: Steady, physical industry is a great safeguard; it exhausts the animal passions and leaves less opportunity for the mind to dwell on demoralizing mattersCG 462.1+2.

• Dietary Choices: Families should avoid animal flesh and eggs, as these foods inflame the animal passions and make it more difficult to overcome temptation2MR 106.1+2.

• Parental Vigilance: Parents must be awake to the danger, educating their children on the sinfulness of these habits and guarding them against evil associates2T 348.2+2.

• Spiritual Help: When tempted, individuals should flee to the throne of grace and pray for strength from heaven to bring every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ 2 Corinthians 10:5SA 75.2.

God is merciful and ready to attract the mind that makes a determined effort toward puritySA 75.2. If you seek to reform, He will purify your thoughts and enable you to cleanse yourself from every secret sinSA 75.2. Reach out to the Great Physician, who desires to restore His beautiful flock Jeremiah 13:20+1.